The 2013 exercises have confirmed the reliability of the country's nuclear shield and the growing capabilities of the Air and Space Defence Force, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the Defence Ministry's board on Tuesday.

"In the modern history of Russia it was a second (command and staff exercise in using the strategic nuclear force); the ground-, sea-, and air-based complexes carried out successful missile launches and confirmed the reliability of the country's nuclear shield," Putin said.

He also noted "growing combat capabilities of the Air and Space Defence Force, in the first place, the missile attack warning systems."

"These days the missile defence encompasses all likely missile attack routes," he said.